Bobcats pounce on Clippers for double win

OXFORD– It’s been a tough cruise for the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Clippers varsity softball team this season.
Back-to-back season opening wins were followed by strings of losses including six shut-outs and a pair of losses to Solon. Bright spots have included big wins over Columbus Junction, Davenport West and Williamsburg as well as a pair of wins over Vinton-Shellsburg.
The seas turned rough again Tuesday, June 24, as the Bobcats of Western Dubuque capsized the Clippers in a varsity doubleheader, a make-up of a rain-out the previous week.
The Bobcats torpedoed the Clippers 3-2 in an eight-inning opener, and then shut out the Creek girls 10-0 in the nightcap.
Lexi Kinnaird smacked a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Molly Villhauer and Eden Campbell to give the Clippers a 2-0 lead n game one. The Bobcats evened the score as they put two runs up in the top of the third. In the eighth, a ground ball to deep left field allowed the winning run to score. The Creek girls went down swinging in the bottom half of the inning as Villhauer led-off with a double deep to left field that was very nearly a home run.
Villhauer led at the plate with two hits, including the double. Kinnaird went the distance for the Clippers in the circle giving up 11 hits, three earned runs and striking out six.
The Clippers only mustered three hits, all singles, from Mallory Neubauer, Lauren Stopko and Villhauer in the nightcap. The Bobcats scored twice in the top of the second inning, three more in the third and five in the fifth (and final due to the 10-run mercy rule). Kaitlin Greene, a sophomore, pitched for the Clippers, working all five innings and giving up 13 hits, 10 runs (eight earned), walking three and striking out five.
The losses dropped CCA to 11-15 overall.
The Clippers will be in Kalona at the Mid-Prairie tournament on Saturday, July 5, before ending the regular season at home on Monday, July 7, with a varsity doubleheader against Marion. The road to Fort Dodge and the state tournament starts Thursday, July 10, with a Class 4A regional quarterfinal contest at home against Davenport North. The winner advances to face Cedar Rapids Xavier in the semifinal at Xavier on Saturday, July 12. The regional final is set for Tuesday, July 15, also at Xavier. Regional game times are 7 p.m.